Beverly Kathleen Barrett

WATERVILLE – Beverly Kathleen Barrett, 87, of Harmony died peacefully on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Mount St. Joseph Nursing Care Center in Waterville.

Beverly “Bev” was born in Waterville on January 4, 1935, the daughter of Reynold and Blanche (Butler) Burgess. Bev graduated from Waterville High School in the class of 1952.

Over the years Bev was mainly a homemaker and raised her three sons. On top of the hard work put into raising three boys, she also extended a hand and helped raise many of the other children in her neighborhood. She served the community by working in various places in the Oakland Maine area including Grants department store, and Buddies groceries. In the mid 1970’s Bev was able to follow her passion for books and reading when she became the Oakland elementary school librarian. She loved working with the children and loved to share her knowledge and passion for learning. She enjoyed reading to them during the school day and inspired many young students to pursue a love for books. She was known for always setting aside personally picked-out novels for them to take home.

In 1982, she met Earl Barrett, the love of her life, and they were married on November 4.

Together, they opened “Bev and Earl’s” vegetable stand on Alpine Street in Oakland. The greeting on the vegetable stand read “Thanks for being our Friend, Keep Smiling”. Truly, these were words of wisdom that Bev lived by. Through her entire life, she was known for her kindness, selflessness, and positivity. She always extended a helping hand to anyone and made many meaningful friends along the way.

For many years during the late 80’s and 90’s, Bev and Earl enjoyed the summer and fall patrons stopping in to get their weekly fill of vegetables. Bev always looked forward to the opening of the vegetable stand and the return of summer friends. She loved to provide in the community and provide love and support to anyone that stopped in.

Those who were blessed to know and be part of Bev’s life realized very quickly that she was the most selfless person they would ever know. She was an angel of God put on this earth to make others smile and be better people. She had the kindest of souls. She loved being around people and was always there to listen and guide many through the good and not so good times. This quality held strong in her later years even as she battled through dementia; she was always smiling and saying, “thank you for coming to see me” and wanting to always share her ice cream that was brought specifically for her. One of her grandsons recently shared that “she was nicest person he had ever had the pleasure of knowing”, and many in her family and in the community share this same thought.

Surviving are her children: Richard and Deborah Wentworth of Oakland, Jim and Cheryl Wentworth of Sidney, Don and Doreen Smith of Sidney, Roy Barrett of Augusta, Rick Barrett of Harmony, Roger Barrett of Oakland, and Jerrilynn and Tim Levinsailor of Sangerville; as well as an abundance of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, Bev was predeceased by her first husband Myron Wentworth, Husband Earl Barrett; brothers Reynold Jr. Burgess, Leonard Burgess, Earl Burgess; sisters Madeline Stubbert and Marjorie Burgess, and son Daniel Wentworth.

At their request there will be a private family service.

There will be no services at this time. Arrangements are by Lawry Brothers-Wheeler, 26 Church St., Oakland. An online guestbook may be signed, and memories shared at: http://www.lawrybrothers.com.

Those who would like to donate in her memory, the family asks that you donate to your local school or town library. Books were significant in Bev’s life and donating in her honor may have the power to significantly change the lives of the future generation.